Hey! How are you? I haven’t seen you in a month of Sundays. Did you see Aunt Adeline downstairs? Yes, she’s still dressing in Regency clothes and running the town behind the mayor’s back. I love her to bits! Have a seat.
You heard about the bottling plant closing last Friday? I’m sure it’s the talk of the Golden Age Diner. I’m worn slap out from worrying. We called everyone together right at closing time. Mr. Harvey said, “Kay Starling, you’re going to read out the announcement since you’re the head of Human Relations.” Between you and me, I wouldn’t trust anything that man said if his tongue was notarized. But I dropped the bombshell that the Hurdee Gurdee bottling plant was closed effective immediately. Eric Longo, one of the packaging workers, stood there stunned. He’s got a new house, three little ones, and Lorraine is due with their fourth after Christmas. Darla Bicknell, a line worker, burst into tears. She has the cutest little four-year-old girl. Mr. Harvey had me say that folks could collect their severance check and a coupon for $1 off any future Hurdee Gurdee purchase on their way out. As if anyone would be caught dead drinking that chocolate-flavored sweet tea now!
My best friend, Hayley, said it was all sadder than a store-bought cake. She’d know too what with her owning the bakery with her mama. You know my brother, Neil, who owns the newspaper? He told me that Mayor Walter Buckalew IV is considering taking the offer from that big casino outfit. Imagine building a casino here! That would ruin our little town. Aunt Adeline says the mayor should stick to his Big Size Pies business.
Come outside with me. I have to feed the birds and squirrels and chipmunks. Watch your step. Starling Farm was built in 1778 and these stairs are steep.
Whew, is it hot enough out here for you? I guess it’s to be expected for September in Virginia. The Blue Ridge Mountains look hazy, don’t they? That’s the Secrets Tree, the huge creeping cherry tree. Hayley and I used to sit under it growing up and share secrets.
Over there, you can see where my brother, Hugo, lives in his bachelor apartment over the old stables. He’s up in Middleburg buying horses. That ranch house is where my sister Josie lives with her family. Oh, no! Would you look at that! It’s an orange cap from a bottle of Hurdee Gurdee soda. There’s that mischievous crow, Henry Tilney, cawing his crow heart out. See him up there? He likes to leave me little presents but this time he’s gone too far. Henry Tilney! Badly done!
Let’s finish filling up these feeders and pouring fresh water in the birdbaths. My pendant? Yes, that’s a little Jane Austen silhouette. I always wear it. Aunt Adeline has one too. Maybe Jane will give me some inspiration as to how we can save our town from those casino people. We have to work together and find a way for the townspeople to earn an income.
Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your kindness. I hope you’re right and it will all work out. But I can’t help feeling that something very bad is going to happen. Goodness, I sound like Aunt Adeline when she sees the white stag out near the woods. She says it means death.
My best to your family. Come back and visit soon, okay? I’ll ask Mrs. Calhoun to bake one of her coconut cakes for us. Bye now.
Giveaway: Enter to win a signed print copy of DEATH COMES TO JANE AUSTEN TOWN. To enter, leave a comment below and tell us if you’ve read any Jane Austen novels or seen any of the filmed adaptations of her novels. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends November 15, 2025. Good luck everyone!
DEATH COMES TO JANE AUSTEN TOWN — A “Jane Austen Town” Mystery, Book 1
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: November 2025
Format: Digital, Print
Purchase Link
First in a new cozy mystery series with a Jane Austen twist from Agatha Award winning author Rosemary Stevens!
When the local bottling plant closes, employment in Boring, Virginia dries up. The mayor is under pressure to accept an offer from Dale Casino Resorts to build a massive gambling complex. The prospect would bring jobs, but it would destroy the traditional, small-town life the community loves.
All seems lost until Kay Starling is inspired by her love of iconic author Jane Austen to reinvent Boring into Jane Austen Town! Together with her family, friends, and neighbors, Kay launches a Jane Austen Festival culminating in a grand Birthday Ball to honor the author’s 250th birthday and #PartyLikeIts1811.
But will the murder of the devious dancing master spoil their plans to save the town? With Detective Gordon focusing on shy Betsy Bell Ward, Kay vows to find the killer herself. Because it’s a truth universally acknowledged that every murder needs a determined sleuth.
Includes mouthwatering recipes including one from the Regency Era!
Meet the author
Rosemary Stevens was raised in Richmond, Virginia and has been an anglophile since childhood. Death Comes to Jane Austen Town is her thirteenth book. She’s won both the Agatha Award and the Romantic Times Award for her mysteries. Rosemary feels that life isn’t complete without a Siamese cat (thanks to Lilian Jackson Braun). She’s currently owned by two. You can find her at www.rosemarystevens.com or on Instagram at @rosemary.stevens.author.
I’ve read Pride and Prejudice and have seen the movie Emma.
That’s great, Sharon! Thank you for commenting and entering the giveaway!
I’ve read Pride and Prejudice and have seen the movie Emma.
Sounds like an interesting book, although my only knowledge of Jane Austen comes from when I was a kid and watched Wishbone do Pride and Prejudice.
That sounds funny, Alicia! I’ll have to check it out. Thank you for stopping by.
I haven’t read books or seen movies relating to Jane Austen. However, this cozy mystery does pique my interest.
Hi Tanya, if you like period drama, you might want to check out either the 1995 (6 parts) or 2005 (movie length) adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. They’re both great productions. Thank you for your comment!
I’d love to find a new series and it sounds great!
Thank you, Margaret! I always love finding a new cozy mystery series to love.
I have read Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, but it’s been quite awhile ago. i haven’t seen any of the movies. Would like to read about Austentown. sounds like a great cozy.
Hi Dianne, thank you for your kind words about Death Comes to Jane Austen Town. Love your cute orange kitty in your pic. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!
I’ve read all of Jane Austen’s books, Pride and Prejudice several times. It’s my favorite.
I love Pride and Predjudice! It’s such a lovely story. Thank you for stopping by, Shirley.
Yes indeed! I’ve read Jane Austen, seen movies made of her books, and enjoyed her as a character in other books. And I love to watch the comedy “Austenland.”
Oh my goodness, Pat. I LOVE Austenland! The cast is so funny, and we have Mr. Tilney aka Mr. Nobley who is supposed to be like Darcy, haha! I need to watch again now. Thanks so much for commenting!
I will admit I haven’t yet read the books, even though I have them in a lovely special edition. Kids got in the way, then divorce and no romance in my reads. I intend to read them during recuperation from my hip replacement surgery in a couple of months. But I have seen every adaptation on screen or TV. From the earliest to now. My oldest, when she was in 3rd or 4th grade, watched three versions of Emma, back in the 1990s. She chose which portrayals of each character she liked best, and then went on to the lighting, camera work, etc. Colin Firth’s adaptation of P&P was her favorite, but when she was sick, the movie she wanted was Linda Ronstadt’s Pirates of Penzance.
Hi Kristin, that’s lovely that you shared the adaptations with your daughter. I believe that liking Jane Austen’s stories can be something passed down through the generations and have included that in my book. Best of luck and speedy healing with your hip replacement. I had one last year and had put it off for a long time. Afterward, I thought well, it wasn’t a party, but I got through it just fine. You will too. Thank you for your comment!
I love Jane Austen’s novels and have read them all. I have seen movie versions of Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Emma, Sense and Sensibility and Northanger Abbey. I love reading books with themes based on her books.
Hi Cherie, wow you are very familiar with Jane’s work. Me too. Seems as if her writing is timeless. There are lots of “Easter eggs” in my book that you would probably like. Good luck in the contest and thank you for stopping by!
This sounds wonderful … hoping for audiobook in future. Loved Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth.
And all the best to those entered into contest! Sadly I don`t qualify.
Inks, it was kind of you to comment. You say you don’t qualify for the giveaway. Are you overseas? Re an audio book, I’m not sure if there will be one. I refuse to use AI voices (free to me), and having the book done with human voices is above my budget right now. I did have a an audio book cover made and am keeping it just in case! Thank you for stopping by.